Mac OS X (MAC) show hidden files

Maybe someone of you noticed that you cannot see hidden files in you MAC OS X Finder.

There are only few reasons to change this:
1. You need to access the /etc, /sbin, /bin, /tmp, /usr or /var directorys
2. You opened some crap from your Mail client and it was saved under: /Users/username/Library/Mail Downloads
and you have no access to it.

Open a terminal window and enter the following command:

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defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

Press RETURN to chnage the setting (you dont deen root privileges!)

To change the view settings back enter:

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defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles NO

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles NO

Now to take the settings in effect relaunch Finder by holding ‘alt’ on the keyboard and right click on the Finder icon on your Dock:

Relaunch Finder

Another easy one alternative to this process is a application: ShowAllFiles

I think a long usage description or a boring README is not required.

Click to “Show Special Files” to show them or click to “Hide Special Files” to hide them.